Master of Science in Pathology

The School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences at the University of Mississippi Medical Center offers a Master of Science in Pathology. The degree program is an intensive one-year program intended for medical students who desire to obtain training in both anatomic and clinical pathology and is the educational component of the Sidney A. Coleman Post-Sophomore Medical Student Pathology Program provided by the department of Pathology within the School of Medicine. Anatomic pathology encompasses surgical pathology, autopsy pathology, and cytopathology. Clinical pathology consists of transfusion medicine (immunohematology), microbiology, chemistry, and hematopathology.

The Master of Science in Pathology will appeal to medical students who are seriously considering pathology as a career. In addition, the program will attract medical students who plan a career in the surgical specialties. In previous years, rotations in pathology were mandatory for residents in surgery and obstetrics-gynecology, but this is no longer the case. This program will allow students planning a career in those disciplines to receive special training in pathology so the student, as a surgeon, can better understand and appreciate the complexity and limitations of pathologic analysis of specimens. The student will also better appreciate the role of communication between surgeon and pathologist for optimal patient care.

Students enrolled in the program are medical students who step out of the medical school curriculum after completion of the second year of medical school to spend one year in pathology training. During this time, the students will be enrolled in courses in pathology including surgical pathology, autopsy pathology, hematopathology, cytopathology, and transfusion medicine. Students work daily with pathology residents, pathologist assistants, and attending pathologists. These students also attend many conferences and didactic lectures. Opportunities for research include working with pathology attending physicians as well as researchers at the Cancer Institute.

The MS in Pathology program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond a BS or BA degree. To be eligible for graduation, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher or a weighted numerical average greater than or equal to 80%.

Applicants must have successfully completed their first and second year of medical school and be good standing.